Select dictionary

Compartir esta entrada

Although in Italian possessives, like most other adjectives, agree in gender and number with the noun they qualify, not as in English with the possessor they refer to, their is always translated by loro; however, since Italian possessives, unlike English ones, are normally preceded by an article, the article - if not the possessive loro - will have to agree with the noun: loro + masculine singular noun ( their neighbour, their dog = il loro vicino, il loro cane), loro + feminine singular noun ( their teacher, their house = la loro maestra, la loro casa), loro + masculine plural noun ( their children, their books = i loro figli, i loro libri), and loro + feminine plural noun ( their friends, their shoes = le loro amiche, le loro scarpe). - When own is used after their to intensify the meaning of the possessive, it is not usually translated in Italian: they are getting to London in their own car = stanno andando a Londra con la loro macchina. - When their (or their own) is used to avoid saying his or her after words like everyone, no-one, anyone etc., it is usually translated by the adjective proprio in Italian: everyone is responsible for their own actions = ognuno è responsabile delle proprie azioni. - When their is used before nouns indicating parts of the body (for which ), garments, relatives, food and drink etc., Italian has an article instead: they had their hair cut = si sono fatti tagliare i capelli; they kept their hat on = hanno tenuto il cappello; they came with their sister = sono venuti con la sorella, con la loro sorella; they have eaten up their soup = hanno finito la minestra; they are in their forties = hanno passato i quaranta.